Isaiah 45:20-25

20 "1Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; 2They have no knowledge, Who 3carry about their wooden idol And 4pray to a god who cannot save.
21 "5Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. 6Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is 7no other God besides * Me, A righteous God and a 8Savior; There is none except Me.
22 "9Turn to Me and 10be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.
23 "11I have sworn by Myself, The 12word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me 13every knee will bow, every tongue will 14swear allegiance.
24 "They will say of Me, 'Only 15in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And 16all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.
25 "In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be 17justified and will 18glory."

Isaiah 45:20-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 45

This chapter contains prophecies concerning Cyrus, the deliverer of the Jews from captivity; and concerning the grace, righteousness, and salvation of Christ; and the conversion of the Gentiles. An account is given of Cyrus, and of the great things God would do for him, and by him, Isa 45:1-3 and the ends for which he would do these things, for the sake of his people Israel; and that he might be known to be the only true God, who is the Maker of all things, Isa 45:4-7 an intimation is given of the Messiah, as the author of righteousness and salvation; and of the contention and murmuring of the Jews about him, Isa 45:8-10, encouragement is given to pray for and expect good things by him for the children of God, in consideration of the greatness of God as the Creator, who would raise him up in righteousness, the antitype of Cyrus, Isa 45:11-13, the conversion of the Gentiles, the confusion of idolaters, and the salvation of the Israel of God, are prophesied of, Isa 45:14-17, which are confirmed by his works and his word, what he had done and said, Isa 45:18,19, the vanity of idols is exposed, and Christ the only Saviour asserted, to whom persons in all nations are directed to look for salvation, Isa 45:20-22 when it is affirmed with an oath that all shall be subject to him; that his people shall come to him for righteousness and strength; that his enemies shall be ashamed, and the spiritual Israel of God shall be justified, and glory in him, Isa 45:23-25.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Isaiah 43:9
  • 2. Isaiah 44:18, 19; Isaiah 48:5-7
  • 3. Isaiah 46:1, 7; Jeremiah 10:5
  • 4. Isaiah 44:17; Isaiah 46:6, 7
  • 5. Isaiah 41:23; Isaiah 43:9
  • 6. Isaiah 41:26; Isaiah 44:7; Isaiah 48:14
  • 7. Isaiah 45:5
  • 8. Isaiah 43:3, 11
  • 9. Numbers 21:8, 9; 2 Chronicles 20:12; Micah 7:7; Zechariah 12:10
  • 10. Isaiah 30:15; Isaiah 49:6, 12; Isaiah 52:10
  • 11. Genesis 22:16; Isaiah 62:8; Hebrews 6:13
  • 12. Isaiah 55:11
  • 13. Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10
  • 14. Deuteronomy 6:13; Psalms 63:11; Isaiah 19:18; Isaiah 65:16
  • 15. Jeremiah 33:16
  • 16. Isaiah 41:11
  • 17. 1 Kings 8:32; Isaiah 53:11
  • 18. Isaiah 41:16; Isaiah 60:19

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit "the wood of their graven image"
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